Electronic device and note reminder method

ABSTRACT

In a note reminder method, the note includes a reminder event and personal information of a person associated with the reminder event, a current location of the electronic device is obtained. When a distance between the current location and a location of the person associated with a note is determined to be less than or equal to a predefined distance, the note reminder is executed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No.104122084 filed on Jul. 7, 2015, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to note management, and morespecifically relates to a method for executing a person-based notereminder.

BACKGROUND

A note is a briefly written record that is used to remind somebody to dosomething at certain time. Generally, when arrival time of the note isrecorded, the user is notified in a predefined way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hardware environmentfor executing a note reminder system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of function modules of thenote reminder system in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for executing a notereminder.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the block 33 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of the block 33 inFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. Also, the description is not to be consideredas limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may beexaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the presentdisclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, isillustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. Severaldefinitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in thisdisclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and suchreferences mean “at least one.”

Furthermore, the word “module,” as used hereinafter, refers to logicembodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of softwareinstructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example,Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modulesmay be embedded in firmware. It will be appreciated that modules maycomprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and maycomprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays orprocessors. The modules described herein may be implemented as eithersoftware and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type ofnon-transitory computer-readable storage medium or other computerstorage device. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including,but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-endedinclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, seriesand the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hardware environmentfor executing a person-based note reminder system (hereinafter “notereminder system”). The note reminder system 100 is installed and run inan apparatus, for example a note reminder server 10. The note reminderserver 10 can communicate with a number of electronic devices 20 througha network 30. The network 30 can be, but is not limited to, an internet,a wireless network or a Local Area Network (LAN). In the embodiment, thenote reminder system 100 is installed and run in the note reminderserver 10. In an alternative embodiment, the note reminder system 100 isinstalled and run in the electronic devices 20. In still an alternativeembodiment, several modules of the note reminder system 100 areinstalled and run in the electronic device 20, such as a creating module110 and a reminder module 140 shown in FIG. 2) can be installed and runin the electronic device 20, and other remaining modules are installedand run in the note reminder server 10.

In at least one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the note reminder server10 includes, but is not limited to, a storage device 11, at least oneprocessor 12, and an electronic map 13. FIG. 1 illustrates only oneexample of the note reminder server 10; others can include more or fewercomponents than illustrated, or have a different configuration of thevarious components in other embodiments.

In at least one embodiment, the storage device 11 can include varioustypes of non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums. For example,the storage device 11 can be an internal storage system, such as a flashmemory, a Random Access Memory (RAM) for temporary storage ofinformation, and/or a Read-Only Memory (ROM) for permanent storage ofinformation. The storage device 11 can also be an external storagesystem, such as a hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium.The at least one processor 12 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, or other data processor chip that performs functions ofthe note reminder system 100 in the note reminder server 10. Theelectronic map 13 can store geographic locations of an area and thedetail information on roads of the area. The area can be, but is notlimited, a country, a city, or a district. The electronic map 13 can bea two-dimensional map or a three-dimensional map.

In at least one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 20can be a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a smart phone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), or other suitable electronic device. Theelectronic device 20 includes, but is not limited to, an input/outputunit 21, a positioning unit 22, and a storage unit 23. The input/outputunit 21 can be used by a user to input commands and display informationto the user. In the embodiment, the input/output unit 21 is a touchscreen. In other embodiments, the input/output unit 21 can include aninput device such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel, and anoutput device such as a display screen. The positioning unit 22 canprovide a current location of the electronic device 20. In theembodiment, the positioning unit 22 is a Global Positioning System (GPS)device. The storage unit 23 can include various types of non-transitorycomputer-readable storage mediums. For example, the storage unit 23 canbe an internal storage system, such as a flash memory, a Random AccessMemory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a Read-OnlyMemory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The storage unit 23can also be an external storage system, such as a hard disk, a storagecard, or a data storage medium. The storage unit 23 can store reminderscreated by users. FIG. 1 illustrates only one example of the electronicdevice 20; others can include more or fewer components than illustrated,or have a different configuration of the various components in otherembodiments.

The note reminder system 100 can determine whether a distance between acurrent location of a user of the electronic device 20 who created anote and a current location of a person associated with the note is lessthan or equal to a predefined distance. And when the distance betweenthe current location of the user and the current location of the personassociated with the note is less than or equal to the predefineddistance, the note is shown as a reminder for the user.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the function modules ofthe note reminder system 100. In at least one embodiment, the notereminder system 10 can include the creation module 110, an obtainingmodule 120, a determination module 130, the reminding module 140, and anavigation module 150. The function modules 110-150 can includecomputerized codes in the form of one or more programs, which are storedin the storage device 11. The processor 12 executes the computerizedcodes to provide functions of the function modules 110-150. A detaileddescription of the functions of the modules 100-150 is given below inreference to FIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for executing a note reminder. The examplemethod 300 is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of waysto carry out the method. The method 300 described below can be carriedout using the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, for example, andvarious elements of these figures are referenced in explaining examplemethod 300. Each block shown in FIG. 3 represents one or more processes,methods or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary method 300.Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and theorder of blocks can change according to the present disclosure. Theexemplary method 300 can begin at block 301. Depending on theembodiment, additional blocks can be added, others removed, and theordering of the blocks can be changed.

At block 31, the creation module creates a note in response to inputoperations. In the embodiment, the note includes a reminder event andpersonal information of a person associated with the reminder event. Inthe embodiment, the personal information of a person can be anidentification code or an IP address assigned by the note remindersystem 100.

It is to be understood, the user who creates the note and the personassociated with the note are registered members of the note remindersystem 100. Once a member fills register information on the notereminder system 100, the note reminder system 100 can assign anidentification code or an IP address to the member. The identificationcode or an IP address is used to recognize the member. Hereinafter, useror person is registered member of the note reminder system 100.

In the embodiment, the created note includes one or more elements fromtext information, picture information, audio information, and videoinformation. In at least one embodiment, in response to a note creationoperation, a person list is provided and displayed on the input/outputunit 21; a user applies a selection operation on the person list toselect a person, and an input operation on the input/output unit 21 toinput content of the reminder event associated with the selected person.In one embodiment, the person list includes all members registered onthe note reminder system 100. In an alternative embodiment, the personlist includes members who have a social relationship with the user whocreates the note, such as friends, colleges, or family members. Theperson list is provided from an address book of mobile phone or a socialnetwork of the user. The creation module 110 creates the note based onthe selection operation and the input operation.

In other embodiments, the creation module 110 provides an input box inresponse to a note creation operation. The note creation operation canbe an operation to select a menu item for creating notes. The userapplies input operations in the input box to input personal informationof a person and content of the reminder event associated with theperson. The creation module 110 creates the note based on the inputoperations. The creation module 110 further stores the created notes inthe storage device 11. In the embodiment, the user clicks a particularitem of a menu to initiate the note creation operation.

At block 32, the obtaining module obtains a current location of the userof the electronic device, who created the note, provide by thepositioning unit.

At block 33, the determination module determines whether a distancebetween the current location of the user obtained by the obtainingmodule and a location of the person associated with the note is lessthan or equal to a predefined distance; if yes, the process goes toblock 34; otherwise, the process goes back to block 33.

At block 34, the reminding module generates a note reminder signal,transmits the note reminder signal to the electronic device.

At block 35, the reminding module further controls the electronic deviceto execute the note reminder in response to the signal.

In at least one embodiment, the reminding module 140 controls to displaycontent of the note on the input/output unit 21 or sounds out thecontent of the note. In other embodiments, the reminding module 140further controls the electronic device 1 to vibrate or produce aparticular sound.

In the embodiment, the reminding module 140 obtains the contactinformation of the person associated with the note, such as mobile phonenumber, and connects a call between the user and the person associatedwith the note. For example, the reminding module 140 generates a callconnect interface to ask the user of the electronic device whether acall connect between the user and the person associated with the note isneeded and displays the call connect interface on the input/outputdevice. When the user determines the call connect is needed, thereminding module 140 connects the call between the user and the personassociated with the note.

In an alternative embodiment, the reminding module 140 obtains currentlocation of the person associated with the note from the electronic map13, marks the current location of the person in the electronic map, andtransmits the marked current location of the person to the electronicdevice 20 of the user via a predefined way, for example, as a mappicture or electronic map containing the marked current location.

In another embodiment, the reminding module 140 further re-determinesthe location relationship between the user and the person associatedwith the note in a predefine time interval such as 1 minute, transmitsthe re-determined location relationship to the electronic device 20, andcontrols the input/output unit 21 to display the re-determined locationrelationship. The re-determined location relationship can be, but is notlimited, away from or close to.

At block 36, the navigation module generates a help interface to ask theuser of the electronic device whether navigation from the currentlocation of the user to the location of the person associated with thenote is needed and displays the help interface on the input/outputdevice.

At block 37, when a need of the navigation from the current location ofthe user to the location of the person associated with the note isreceived; the navigation module obtains data of the navigation from theelectronic map 13 and displays the data of the navigation.

The data of the navigation includes, but is not limited to, a distance,a path, vehicles, time cost, and money cost from the current location ofthe user to the location of the person associated with the note.

In one embodiment, the help interface includes two operable itemsincluding a “yes” and a “no”. When the item of “yes” is selected, therequest for providing the navigation is generated and the navigation isprovided. When the item of “no” is selected, the navigation from thecurrent location to the location associated with the note will not beprovided.

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail description of one embodiment of the block33. The example method 400 is provided by way of example, as there are avariety of ways to carry out the method. The method 400 described belowcan be carried out using the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 1-2,for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced inexplaining example method 400. Each block shown in FIG. 4 represents oneor more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the exemplarymethod 400. Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is by exampleonly and the order of blocks can change according to the presentdisclosure. The exemplary method 400 can begin at block 41. Depending onthe embodiment, additional blocks can be added, others removed, and theordering of the blocks can be changed.

At block 41, the determination module determines whether a distancebetween a current location of any other online members except the userof the electronic device to the current location of the user is lessthan or equal to the predefined distance; if yes, the process goes toblock 42; otherwise, the process goes back to block 32.

The online member is a user who logs into the note reminder system 100.In one embodiment, the obtaining module 120 obtains current locations ofthe other online members; the determining module 130 compares thecurrent locations of the other online members and the current locationof a user of the electronic device to determine whether a distancebetween the current location of the user who created the note and thecurrent location of any other online members is less than or equal to apredefined distance. The predefined distance can be determined accordingto need.

In alternative embodiment, the determining module 130 recognizes otheronline member except the user of the electronic device who locates in apredefined area via wireless network technology, such as BLUETOOTH. Adistance from the predefined area to the current location of the user isless than or equal to the predefined distance. For example, a wirelessnetwork is set up; a distance from the cover area of the wirelessnetwork to the current distance of the user, who creates the note,equals or less than the predefined distance, the determining module 130obtains identification information of electronic devices, such as MediaAccess Control (MAC) address of the BLUETOOTH of an electronic device.The electronic device is used by the other online member who is locatedin the area of the wireless network. In the embodiment, the notereminder system 100 stores a relationship between the identificationinformation of electronic devices and MAC addresses of the electronicdevices.

At block 42, the determining module determines whether the one whosedistance from the user is less than or equal to the predefined distanceis the person associated with the note; if yes, the process goes toblock 34; if no, the process goes back to block 41.

In the embodiment, the determining module 130 compares whether personalinformation of the one whose distance from the user is less than orequal to the predefined distance is same as the personal information ofthe person associated with the note. When the personal information theone whose distance from the user is less than or equal to the predefineddistance is same as the personal information of the person associatedwith the note, the determining module 130 determines he or she is theperson associated with the note.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detail description of an alternative embodiment ofthe block 33. The example method 500 is provided by way of example, asthere are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method 500described below can be carried out using the configurations illustratedin FIGS. 1-2, for example, and various elements of these figures arereferenced in explaining example method 500. Each block shown in FIG. 5represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out inthe exemplary method 500. Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocksis by example only and the order of blocks can change according to thepresent disclosure. The exemplary method 500 can begin at block 51.Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks can be added, othersremoved, and the ordering of the blocks can be changed.

At block 51, the determining module determines whether the personassociated with the note is online. If yes, the process goes to block52; if no, the process goes back to block 51.

At block 52, the obtaining module obtains a current location of theperson associated with the note.

At block 53, the determining module determines a distance between thecurrent location of the user who created the note and the currentlocation of the person associated with the note is less than or equal toa predefined distance. If yes, the process goes to block 34; if no, theprocess goes back to the block 51.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Manydetails are often found in the art and many such details are thereforeneither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of the present technology have been set forth in theforegoing description, together with details of the structure andfunction of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only,and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the presentdisclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broadgeneral meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore beappreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified withinthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of a note reminder executable by atleast one processor of a note reminder server, the note comprising areminder event and personal information of a person associated with thereminder event, the method comprising: obtaining a current location ofan electronic device, which communicates with the note reminder server;determining whether a distance between the current location and alocation of the person associated with the note is less than or equal toa predefined distance; generating a note reminder signal when thedistance between the current location and the location of the personassociated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance;transmitting the note reminder signal to the electronic device; andcontrolling the electronic device to execute the note reminder inresponse to the signal.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising creating the note associated with a location; and storing thenote in the note reminder server.
 3. The method according to claim 2,wherein the note associated with a person is created by: providing aperson list; receiving a selection operation on the person list toselect a person and an input operation for inputting content of thereminder event associated with the selected person; and creating thenote based on the selection operation and the input operation.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein the note associated with a personis created by: providing an input box; receiving input operations in theinput box to input personal information of a person and content of thereminder event associated with the person; and creating the note basedon the input operations.
 5. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: generating a help interface to ask whether navigation fromthe current location to the location of the person associated with thenote is needed; displaying the generated help interface; obtaining dataof the navigation from an electronic map when receiving a need of thenavigation from the current location to the location of the personassociated with the note; and displaying the data of the navigation. 6.The method according to claim 1, wherein the “determining whether adistance between the current location and a location of the personassociated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance”comprises: determining whether a distance between a current location ofany other online members except the user of the electronic device to thecurrent location of the electronic device is less than or equal to thepredefined distance; comparing personal information of online memberswhose distances from the electronic device are less than or equal to thepredefined distance with the personal information of the personassociated with the note; and determining any online member whosedistance from the electronic device is less than or equal to thepredefined distance and further whose personal information match thepersonal information of the person associated with the note to be theperson associated with the note.
 7. The method according to claim 1,wherein the “determining whether a distance between the current locationand a location of the person associated with the note is less than orequal to a predefined distance” comprises: obtaining a current locationof the person associated with the note; and determining whether adistance between the current location of the electronic device and thecurrent location of the person associated with the note is less than orequal to a predefined distance.
 8. The method according to claim 1,further comprising: obtaining current location of the person associatedwith the note from an electronic map of the note reminder server;marking the current location of the person in the electronic map; andtransmitting the marked current location of the person to the electronicdevice via a predefined way.
 9. The method according to claim 8, furthercomprising: re-determining a location relationship between the user andthe person associated with the note in a predefine time interval;transmitting the re-determined location relationship to the electronicdevice; and displaying the re-determined location relationship on theelectronic device, wherein the re-determined location relationshipcomprises far away or is close to.
 10. An electronic device comprising:a processor; and a storage device that stores a note and one or moreprograms, the note comprising a reminder event and a location associatedwith the event, the programs which, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to: obtain a current location of an electronicdevice; determine whether a distance between the current location and alocation of the person associated with the note is less than or equal toa predefined distance; generate a note reminder signal when the distancebetween the current location and the location of the person associatedwith the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance; andcontrol the electronic device to execute the note reminder in responseto the signal.
 11. The electronic device according to claim 10, whereinthe “determining whether a distance between the current location and alocation of the person associated with the note is less than or equal toa predefined distance” comprises: determining whether a distance betweena current location of any other online members except the user of theelectronic device to the current location of the electronic device isless than or equal to the predefined distance; comparing personalinformation of online members whose distances from the electronic deviceare less than or equal to the predefined distance with the personalinformation of the person associated with the note; and determining anyonline member whose distance from the electronic device is less than orequal to the predefined distance and further whose personal informationmatch the personal information of the person associated with the note tobe the person associated with the note.
 12. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the “determining whether a distancebetween the current location and a location of the person associatedwith the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance” comprises:obtaining a current location of the person associated with the note; anddetermining whether a distance between the current location of theelectronic device and the current location of the person associated withthe note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.
 13. Theelectronic device according to claim 10, further comprising: obtainingcurrent location of the person associated with the note from anelectronic map of the note reminder server; marking the current locationof the person in the electronic map; and transmitting the marked currentlocation of the person to the electronic device via a predefined way.14. The electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising:re-determining a location relationship between the user and the personassociated with the note in a predefine time interval; transmitting there-determined location relationship to the electronic device; anddisplaying the re-determined location relationship on the electronicdevice, wherein the re-determined location relationship comprises faraway or is close to.
 15. A non-transitory storage medium having storedthereon instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronicdevice, causes the processor to perform a method for a not reminding,wherein the method comprises: obtaining a current location of anelectronic device; determining whether a distance between the currentlocation and a location of the person associated with the note is lessthan or equal to a predefined distance; generating a note remindersignal when the distance between the current location and the locationof the person associated with the note is less than or equal to apredefined distance; transmitting the note reminder signal to theelectronic device; and controlling the electronic device to execute thenote reminder in response to the signal.
 16. The non-transitory storagemedium according to claim 15, wherein the “determining whether adistance between the current location and a location of the personassociated with the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance”comprises: determining whether a distance between a current location ofany other online members except the user of the electronic device to thecurrent location of the electronic device is less than or equal to thepredefined distance; comparing personal information of online memberswhose distances from the electronic device are less than or equal to thepredefined distance with the personal information of the personassociated with the note; and determining any online member whosedistance from the electronic device is less than or equal to thepredefined distance and further whose personal information match thepersonal information of the person associated with the note to be theperson associated with the note.
 17. The non-transitory storage mediumaccording to claim 15, wherein the “determining whether a distancebetween the current location and a location of the person associatedwith the note is less than or equal to a predefined distance” comprises:obtaining a current location of the person associated with the note; anddetermining whether a distance between the current location of theelectronic device and the current location of the person associated withthe note is less than or equal to a predefined distance.
 18. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:obtaining current location of the person associated with the note froman electronic map of the note reminder server; marking the currentlocation of the person in the electronic map; and transmitting themarked current location of the person to the electronic device via apredefined way.
 19. The non-transitory storage medium according to claim18, further comprising: re-determining a location relationship betweenthe user and the person associated with the note in a predefine timeinterval; transmitting the re-determined location relationship to theelectronic device; and displaying the re-determined locationrelationship on the electronic device, wherein the re-determinedlocation relationship comprises far away or is close to.
 20. Thenon-transitory storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising:generating a help interface to ask whether navigation from the currentlocation to the location of the person associated with the note isneeded; displaying the generated help interface; obtaining data of thenavigation from an electronic map when receiving a need of thenavigation from the current location to the location of the personassociated with the note; and displaying the data of the navigation.